News

Hurricane force winds for California at the end of Race 3

15 November 2009

In hurricane force winds, California, the American entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, has arrived in Cape Town at the end of an extremely challenging race across the South Atlantic. Two thousand miles into the 3,300-mile race from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to the South African city, California’s steering wheel sheared off and the crew has sailed the last third of the race using the emergency steering system.

For Cape Town-based skipper Pete Rollason and his crew it was an incredible feat of seamanship and their safe arrival at the Royal Cape Yacht Club is testament to the sailing skills they have developed and the bond they have formed as a team since the race began just two months ago.

California crossed the finish line in Table Bay at 2206 local time (2006 GMT) but winds gusting up to 67 knots made pulling alongside in the busy marina at Royal Cape Yacht Club inadvisable – especially in the dark of the night – so the team was diverted to a safe mooring at the Robben Island Ferry terminal in the V&A Waterfront where they arrived 20 minutes later.

News that California had finished was greeted by a cheer from friends and family, including Pete’s wife and young son, anxiously awaiting their loved ones’ arrival at the yacht club. Immediately they and the crew from the other teams scrambled for taxis so they could head to the V&A to meet them.

Supping on a pint of his favourite Windhoek beer, a very relieved Pete said, “It feels absolutely wonderful to be home. It’s been an absolutely hellish week, I have to say. The crew’s worked really hard and we’re here now – that’s the main thing.”

California has had more than her fair share of bad luck since Clipper 09-10 began in September, so it was a cruel final twist when the hurricane force winds prevented them reaching the marina.

“It was quite funny,” said Pete. “It was blowing its boots off around lunchtime and then as we came in in the early evening, ten miles away, it was down to eight knots and we thought, OK, this is going to be a breeze, but it picked up a little – I think we saw 55 knots – so it was a tough one coming in. But the crew worked hard – they’ve had seven days practice on the emergency steering for 1,100 miles!

“We made a few adaptations to the way we sail the boat but she handles it well. The following sea makes it rather difficult but I think we topped out at about 17-odd knots with emergency steering.

"I’m proud of the crew – I can’t fault them at all. You know the California crew – the morale’s up there. They have their moments but overall it’s not a problem - they’ll bounce back.”

Race 3 was won by Cork who finished at 1438 local time (1238 GMT) on Thursday 12 November. Team Finland emerged victorious from their battle for second place with Uniquely Singapore who finished third.

The winds are forecast to drop overnight and in the morning California will move round to the Royal Cape Yacht Club to join the other nine 68-foot ocean racing yachts competing in Clipper 09-10. They will stay there until the end of the week. Crews are preparing for the next leg of the race, across the Southern Ocean to Australia, deep cleaning the boats, repairing sails and victualling for the gruelling challenge ahead.

They are also taking the opportunity to explore Cape Town and the surrounding area, including visiting Table Mountain, the beautiful botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch, taking in the stunning scenery of Chapmans Peak drive.

The whole fleet will move to the V&A Waterfront on Friday 20 November where the yachts will be available for public viewing. The race will restart on Sunday 22 November, the yachts departing the V&A at 11am for start of the race from Cape Town to Geraldton-Greenough, Western Australia, at 2pm.

The Clipper 09-10 Race started from the Humber on the north east coast of England on 13 September and will return to there on 17 July 2010. It is the only event in the world where people from all walks of life can take on the challenge of a lifetime and race around the globe on stripped down 68-foot ocean racing yachts.